Coin-operated time-indicating device



March 18, 1969 T. R. PETERSON 3,433,344

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COIN-OPERATED TIME-INDICATING DEVICE Filed Sept. 20, 1967 Sheet 4 of e $60207? PeZe mm March 18, 1969 T. R. PETERSON COIN-OPERATED TIME-INDICATING DEVICE Sheet 5 of6 Filed Sept. 20, 1967 March 18, 1969 T. R. PETERSON 3,433,344

COIN-OPERATED TIME- INDICATING DEVICE Filed Sept. 20, 1967 Sheet 6 of e ywxemfer/sam Mail States 3,433,344 COIN-()PERATED TIME-INDICATING DEVICE Theodore R. Peterson, 5945 N. Lakewood Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60626 Filed Sept. 20, 1967, Ser. No. 669,148 U.S. Cl. 19484 15 Claims Int. Cl. G07f /00, 3/02 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Introduction This invention relates to a novel coin operated time indicating device having a simplified construction. In the illustrative embodiments, the inserted coin is visible through a transparent window during operation of the device.

A serious need has arisen for a parking meter having a simplified construction, and particularly a meter in which the inserted coin is visible during the time the meter is operating. The use of illegal slugs instead of proper coins in parking meters has cheated local governments out of a large amount of revenue. A parking meter with a coin viewing window would substantially prevent the use of illegal slugs.

Prior art parking meters with means for viewing the inserted object have had certain shortcomings. For example, in the parking meter disclosed in the patent to G. H. J. Baule, No. 2,173,326, the inserted coin is stated to be frictionally held between a motor-driven rotating disc moving at a fixed speed, and a coin guide or track which is concentric with the disc. Rotation of the disc is said to impart a combination orbital and linear movement to the coin along the track. Because of the frictional contact required between the rotating disc and the coin guide, it appears that a serious problem may be presented if the coin is bent or otherwise damaged. Further, the meter requires that the motor be operating continuously at a fixed speed.

The advantages of providing a parking meter having a simplified construction are apparent, and the adaptability of such a meter to a visible coin operation renders the present invention extremely useful and efficient.

Brief description of the present invention The indicating device of the present invention operates on an entirely different principle from the operating prin ciples of prior art time indicating devices, and utilizes a simplified construction which is adaptable to various sizes of coins and multiple coin operation. The device of the present invention includes a housing which defines a coin receiving slot and a manually operable handle located on the exterior of the housing.

An escapement wheel is rotatably mounted within the housing. The circumference of the escapement wheel forms a support for the coin, and the housing has a coin track which is spaced from the escapement wheel circumference. The coin track and the outer periphery of the esatent 3,433,344 Patented Mar. 18, 1969 capement wheel together define a coin travel slot which communicates with the coin receiving slot.

Means are provided for regulating the rotational speed of the escapement wheel. The escapement wheel has projections on its circumference for gauging the coins which are inserted in the device, and the projections are operable to prevent movement of a coin of predetermined size with respect to the escapement wheel. As will be seen, the escapement wheel is actually driven by the coin in the coin travel slot.

A power disc is rotatably mounted in the housing and may be placed in an actuated position by manual operation of the handle. The power disc is spring biased against movement towards its actuated position and has an extension for urging a coin within the coin travel slot towards the power disc return position.

When a coin is inserted into the coin receiving slot, and the handle is turned in a clockwise direction, the coin will fall into the coin travel slot and the front edge of the coin will rest against one of the projections on the circumference of the escapement wheel. The forward edge of the spring actuated power disc extension will engage the rear edge of the coin and will urge the coin in the counterclockwise direction. In this manner, the escapement wheel will be forced to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, with its speed of rotation being regulated by a conventional speed regulation mechanism.

'In the illustrated embodiments, a window is provided adjacent the coin travel slot so that the coin can [be viewed during operation of the time indicating device.

In one embodiment of the invention, the escapement wheel projections are movable in response to the action of a cam. This allows the use of a plurality of coins in an accumulated time operation.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a plurality of coin tracks, each of different size, are provided for coins of various denominations. The basic operation is similar to the operation of the embodiment in which a single coin track is provided.

Brief description of the drawings A more detailed explanation of the invention is provided in the following description and claims, and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a parking meter in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional elevation, taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of a parking meter with the front portion of the housing removed and with portions of the device shown broken away, the meter being illustrated in its condition when a coin has been inserted and the handle has not yet been turned clockwise by the operator;

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view of a parking meter with the front portion of the housing removed and with portions of the device shown broken away, the meter being illustrated in its condition after the coin has been inserted and the handle has been turned in the clockwise direction and then released;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional elevation of a coin track portion of a parking meter in accordance with the present invention, with certain portions broken away;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional side elevation of a second embodiment of the invention, wherein the parking meter utilizes two coin tracks,- each for a coin of a dilferent denomination than the other;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a parking meter corresponding to the second embodiment;

FIGURE 8 is a front elevational view of a parking meter in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention, with the housing removed and portions of the device shown broken away;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary view of the ratchet and power disc system of the second embodiment, taken from the rear, prior to movement of the handle by an operator;

FIGURE 10 is a view similar to the view of FIG. 9, after the handle has been turned by an operator and prior to the time that it is released;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary view of the camrning system of the second embodiment taken from the front; and

FIGURE 12 is a sectional view of the cams and movable lugs, taken along the line 1212 of FIG. 11 (without showing the coins).

Description of the embodiment of FIGURES Referring to the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES l to 5, a parking meter 18 is shown having a front plate 20 connected to a meter housing face plate 22, a back plate 24 and a rear housing portion 26 which encloses the operational mechanism.

A shaft 28 extends through the front plate and into the housing. A handle 30 is fastened to the shaft 28 which is journalled within a bearing 34. The shaft 28 is fastened through selector wheel mount 35 with pins 36 to a selector wheel 38 which is rotated by turning the handle 30. One side 41 of a return spring 40 is fastened to front plate 20 and the other side 42 of the spring 40 is fastened to the shaft 28. When the handle is turned in the clockwise direction (with respect to FIGURES 1, 3 and 4) the return spring 40 will be extended (as shown in FIG. 4) and when the handle is released, the spring will return to the position illustrated in FIGURE 3, thereby returning the selector wheel 38 to its original position.

A power disc assembly 44 is keyed to a sleeve 46 which idles on shaft 48. Shaft 48 is supported within bearings 49 and 51.

Torque is exerted on the sleeve 46 by a main spring 50 connected to one side thereof. The power disc assembly 44 is normally biased in the counterclockwise direction and will rotate in that direction until the power disc extension 52 comes to rest against an inward portion 54 of the selector wheel 38. In other words, referring to FIG. 2, the power disc extension 52 would be biased in the direction out of the paper towards the viewer and then downwardly to engage with the inward portion 54 of selector wheel 38.

The power disc assembly 44 includes a main power disc 56, a spacer 58, a coin engager segment 60, a transparent ring spacer 62 and the power disc extension 52. These parts are fastened together by means of bolts 64. The front face 52a of disc extension 52 is colored red to indicate clearly the time that has expired.

An annular gear 68 is fastened to the rear side of the power disc 56 and it engages a gear 70 having a shaft 72 keyed thereto. A member 74 is also keyed to the shaft 72. A sleeve 76, through which the shaft 72 extends, is fastened to the back plate 24. About the sleeve 76' there is provided a spring 78 which is fastened at one end 79 to the member 74 and at the other end 80 to a disc 82 which, in addition to member 74, rotates freely about the sleeve 76.

This structure at the rear side of the power disc forms a backlash preventive system, whereby counterclockwise movement of the power disc assembly will be regulated. For example, if an operator turns the handle 30 in a clockwise direction, the inward portion 54 of the selector wheel 38 will move clockwise, pushing with it the power disc assembly because of the engagement of the inward portion 54 with the power disc extension 52. Since the power disc assembly is biased in the counterclockwise direction, if the backlash system were not present, release of handle 30 would allow the power disc assembly to move rapidly in the counterclockwise direction. However, the backlash system offers resistance against rapid counterclockwise movement of the power disc assembly because when the handle is turned in the clockwise direction and the power disc assembly is thus moved in the clockwise direction, the spring 78 unwinds due to the movement transmitted through the shaft 72 to the member 74 to which the spring is connected. When the handle 30 is released, the spring 78 tightens and offers resistance to rapid counterclockwise movement of the power disc assembly. The spring action is balanced by means of the balance disc 82 to which the spring is also connected.

An escapement wheel 86 is fastened to a mount 87 which is keyed to the shaft 48. The escapement wheel carries a number of projections 88 which extend outwardly therefrom. The projections 88 engage the coin to prevent it from moving with respect to the escapement wheel 86, as will be described below.

A coin track 90 is connected to a bracer plate 92 which is fastened to the meter housing. The coin track is located in the same plane as the power disc engage segment 60, and a locating pin 66 is utilized to aid in the accurate positioning of the coin track 90. The lower surface 94 of the coin track 90 and the projections 88 extending from the escapement wheel 86 form a gauging means for determining whether a proper size coin has been inserted in the device.

Referring to FIGURES 4 and 5 in particular, it is seen that the front side 93 of a proper sized coin 95 will engage one of the projections 88 and the top 97 of the coin 95 will fit within the coin travel slot 98, which slot is defined by surface 94 of the coin track 90 and the top surface 100 of the escapement wheel 86. If the coin were too small, the force exerted on its rear side 101 by the power disc engager segment 60 would push the coin freely along the coin travel slot 98. The coin receiving slot 102 is of a size which will not receive a coin that is too large.

it the coin is the proper size, as illustrated in FIGURE 5, the coin will operate as an intermediate component between the power wheel engager segment 60 and the escapement wheel 86, causing the escapement wheel 86 to rotate in the counterclockwise direction as the coin is urged in the counterclockwise direction by the power wheel engager segment. The escapement wheel 86, which is effectively fastened to the shaft 48, would move freely but for the regulation of its speed by a conventional escapement mechanism 104 which includes a series of gears operating to restrain the escapement wheel 86 from turning faster than a predetermined speed.

The front plate 20 and the rear housing 26 are provided with transparent windows 108 and 110, respectively, which windows enable the coin to be viewed from both directions as it travels along the coin travel slot. It is seen that the coin itself is used as the visible intermediate component in the movement of the time indicating device mechanism, and the use of any illegal slug would be seen immediately by an observer.

Operation of the embodiment of FIGURES 1-5 In the operation of the device, the appropriate coin is inserted in the coin receiving slot 102. The handle 30 is then rotated as far as possible in a clockwise direction. This turns the selector wheel 38 in a clockwise direction, thereby pushing the power disc assembly 44 in a clockwise direction until it engages a power disc stop 112 (FIGURE 4). This brings to front face 114 of the power disc engager segment 60 behind the coin, allowing the coin to fall into the coin travel slot 98 and ride on the surface 100 of the escapement wheel 86.

Release of the handle 30 by the operator will cause the spring biased selector wheel 38 to return to its original position but the power disc assembly will remain at the rear of the coin, pushing it against one of the projections 88 extending from the escapement wheel. The main spring 50 will urge the power wheel assembly in the counterclockwise direction, thereby urging the coin in a counterclockwise direction and hence the escapement wheel will turn counterclockwise.

As stated above, movement of the escapement wheel is limited to a predetermined speed by means of the escapement mechanism 104. The escapement mechanism gearing is adjusted so that it will take a predetermined amount of time for the escapement to move the distance of the meter face, e.g., from 60 minutes to zero, under the urging of the coin which is being pushed by the power wheel assembly. To the left of the zero position, the coin track is discontinued and a large space is provided for the coin to fall into a collection box located at the bottom of the meter. As shown in FIGURE 4, it is seen that after the coin reaches the zero position indicated by the reference numeral 116, the coin can fall freely along the slot 118 into the entrance 121 to the coin collection box.

As seen most clearly in FIGURES 3 and 4, the coin track 90 can be removed by merely lifting it off of the locating pin 66. In this manner, different size coin tracks can be provided for different size coins.

Description of the embodiment of FIGURES 6-12 The structure of the embodiment of FIGURES 6 through 12 is similar in many respects to the structure of the embodiment of FIGURES 1-5. However, the embodiment of FIGURES 6 through 12 includes means for enabling coins of diiferent denominations to be utilized in the parking meter, and thus a series of coins can be inserted to provide an accumulation of time.

In this embodiment, structural members which are identical to the structural members of the FIGURES 1-5 embodiment are referred to by the same reference numerals.

In order to accommodate coins of two different denominations, two parallel coin tracks 120 and 122 and two power disc engager segments 128 and 130 are utilized. Normally, the device for receiving coins of two different denominations would operate in a similar manner as the device for receiving a coin of a single denomination, except that there is an additional coin receiving slot, coin travel slot, coin track and power disc engager segment. The additional coin track and power disc engager segment are connected parallel to the corresponding series of elements for the other denominational coin. Hence, if for example a nickel is inserted into a nickel receiving slot and the handle 30 is turned in a clockwise direction, the nickel will fall into the coin travel slot defined by the coin track 120 and the circumference of the selector wheel 126. If a dime is dropped into the dime receiving slot, it will fall, when the handle is turned in the clockwise direction, into the coin travel slot defined by the coin track 122 and the circumference of the selector wheel 126. Release of the handle will cause the corresponding power disc engager segment 128 (for the nickel) or 131 (for the dime) to be urged against the rear side of the coin which is present in the coin travel slot.

Of course, a dime should entitle the operator to twice as much time as a nickel. Therefore, if a meter having a one hour face entitles the user or operator to the full hour by inserting a dime, the operator should only be entitled to /2 hour by inserting a nickel. To this end, a camming system is provided which changes the position of the escapement projections in order to compensate for the time differential resulting from the use of coins of different denominations. The camming system of the present invention is also useful to allow an accumulation of time when two or more coins of the same denomination or coins of diiferent denominations are used in the meter concurrently.

Referring to FIGURES 8-12 in particular, it is seen that the escapement wheel 126 has movable projections 129 for use in connection with the nickel system and movable projections 130 for use in connection with the dime system. The projections 129 and 130 are moved in and out by means of cams 132 and 134, respectively, which are driven by a control plate 136 that is fastened to the cams by pins 138.

A pawl 140 is spring biased in the clockwise direction with respect to FIGURE 8, and is pivotally connected to the selector wheel 38 through pin 142. The pawl is utilized to control the movement of the control plate 136. If the handle 30 is rotated clockwise, the pawl head 144 will enter the control plate notch 146.

Further movement of the handle in the clockwise direction moves the selector wheel 38 in the clockwise direction and causes the control plate 136 to move clockwise. As the cams are moved clockwise with the control plate, the cammed projections are raised.

The cams always maintain a relationship with the respective coins that is equal to the time-denominational factor. For example, if a nickel entitles the parking meter user to thirty minutes of time, the nickel cam 132 will normally be positioned so that if a nickel is already in the coin travel slot, movement of the handle in a clockwise direction will cause the cams to force upwardly some of the movable projections so that another nickel dropped into the coin slot will be positioned thirty minutes behind the nickel that is already in the coin travel slot.

To understand this operation, it must be noted that the power disc extension 52 will not engage the pawl 140 if there is a coin in the coin travel slot. If the power disc extension 52 does not engage the pawl, the pawl will fall into the control plate notch 146, as shown in FIGURE 10. When the pawl head 144 is in engagement with the notch 146, the control plate will move upon clockwise movement of the handle 30. Hence, turning of the handle in the clockwise direction, with a coin in the coin travel slot, will cause the control plate and its associated cams to turn, thereby raising the movable projections to the value in time behind a predetermined value that a coin should receive. If five cents is equivalent to thirty minutes, and a nickel is already in the coin travel slot, the nickel cam will cause thirty minutes of movable projections behind the nickel to be raised when the handle is turned. If thirty minutes of movable projections are raised due to turning of the handle in the clockwise direction, and no nickel is subsequently inserted in the slot 102, the power disc assembly will merely return to its former position behind the coin that is already in the coin travel slot.

If there is no coin in the coin travel slot when the handle 30 is turned in the clockwise direction, the power disc extension 52 will engage the pawl 140 and force it out of the control disc notch 146. When this occurs, the control plate 136 and cams 132, 134 will not move in response to movement of the handle 30 and its connected selector wheel 38, and accordingly no movable projections 129, 130 will be moved upwardly. If a nickel is then inserted in the slot, the power wheel engager segment 128 will push the nickel all the way to the half hour position because there are no projections upstanding to prevent it from traveling to that position.

When one coin is present in a coin travel slot, the power disc extension 52 cannot reach the pawl 140 and the pawl 140 is normally biased into the control plate notch 146. As is described in more detail below, during operation of the device the cams remain stationary while the escapement wheel 126 moves counterclockwise, causing the projections passing over the cam surface to be raised.

When two coins are present in a coin travel slot, although the power disc extension 52 cannot engage the pawl 140, the control plate notch 146 is at a position clockwise (behind) with respect to the pawl. The pawl will ride on the edge of the control plate until the control plate, rotating with the escapement wheel by the action of the bottom of the projections against the cams, moves counterclockwise so that the notch 146 again receives the head 144 of the pawl. In other words, frictional engagement of the bottom of the projections with the cams forces the cams to move in the counterclockwise direction as the projections move in that direction. Once the notch receives the head of the pawl, however, the cams will thereafter remain stationary.

Operation of the embodiment of FIGURES 6-12 In the operation of the device illustrated in FIGURES 6 to 12, assume for example, that a nickel (which is equivalent to thirty minutes time) is insertel into the nickel receiving slot 102. The handle 30 is then turned in a clockwise direction causing the inward portion 54 of the selector wheel 38 to urge the power disc assembly 44 in the clockwise direction. The power disc assembly 44' will move in the clockwise direction until it engages the power disc stop 147.

When the handle 30 is turned clockwise until the power disc extension 52 engages the power disc stop 147, the nickel will drop into the coin travel slot, as with the embodiment of FIGURES 1-5. When the handle 30 is released, the power disc engager segment 128 will urge the nickel in the counterclockwise direction. The nickel cam 132 is shaped so that the first upstanding projection that the nickel will come in contact with is at the thirty minute Zone on the meter. In other words, the nickel will move rapidly in the coin travel slot until it reaches the first upstanding projection at the thirty minute Zone, which projection it will engage. The escapement Wheel 126 will then be urged in the counterclockwise direction by reason of the pressure of the front edge 93 of the nickel against the first upstanding projection.

Since there now is a nickel in the coin travel slot, the power wheel extension 52 will not engage the pawl 140 and the pawl 140 will be in engagement with the control disc notch 146. When the pawl 140 is engaging the control plate notch 146, the control plate 136 and the cams 132, 134 will not move during movement of the nickel and the escapement wheel 126 in the counterclockwise direction. Hence, as the nickel moves, the projections behind the nickel are raised by the stationary cam 132. If the nickel moves fifteen minutes, fifteen minutes of projections are raised behind the nickel.

If the operator inserts another nickel into the device and turns the handle in the clockwise direction, the pawl head 144 will push the control plate 136 and its associated cams in the clockwise direction until the pawl 140 is engaged by the power disc extension 52. This will occur when the cam has raised another fifteen minutes of movable projections, thereby providing thirty minutes of movable projections behind the first nickel that is already in the coin travel slot. Once the pawl 140 is engaged by the power disc extension, further turning of the handle will not cause any more projections to rise, because the cam becomes stationary.

When the handle has been turned so that the second nickel drops into the coin travel slot, the power disc engager segment 128 will push the second nickel in the counterclockwise direction until it engages the first upstanding projection, which is at the forty-five minute (time remaining) zone, while the first nickel is at the fifteen minute zone. The power disc assembly will no longer engage the first nickel but will operate with the second nickel, which entitles the operator to forty-five minutes due to the addition of its normal thirty minutes to the fifteen minutes remaining in connection with the first nickel that was inserted.

The operation of this system is similar with respect to the insertion of dimes. In this case, however, the cam is shaped so as to raise sixty minutes of movable projections, all across the meter face. Hence, when a dime is inserted into the dime slot and the handle is turned so that the dime drops into the dime travel slot, the first upstanding projection will be adjacent the dime receiving slot, at the sixty minute zone. Further operation is identical to the operation discussed above in connection with nickels.

Various modifications are possible. For example, the meter could have a span of several hours and have the ability to receive a predetermined number of coins to total the number of hours which the meter can accommodate. Further, the mechanism described herein may be utilized without transparent windows for viewing the coins.

What is claimed is:

1. A coin-operated time indicating device which comprises: a housing defining a coin receiving opening; an escapement wheel rotatably mounted within said housing and forming a support for a coin; means connected to said escapement wheel for controlling the rotational speed thereof; a plurality of projections extending outwardly from said escapement wheel; a coin track within said housing, said coin track being spaced from said escapement wheel and defining therewith a coin travel slot which communicates with said coin receiving opening; a power disc assembly rotatably mounted within said housing and having a portion thereof in coplanar relationship with said projections; means for biasing said power disc assembly in a first angular direction; a handle located on the exterior of said housing and operable to move said power disc assembly against its bias; said coin track and escapement wheel projections co-acting to gauge the coins inserted in said device; said escapement wheel movement being caused by the action of the coin in said coin travel slot against one of said projections, with said power disc portion urging the coin in the direction of said power disc assembly bias.

2. A coin-operated time indicating device as described in claim 1, wherein said projections are equally spaced about the circumference of said escapement wheel, and including a light transmissive member connected to said housing and positioned to enable viewing of the coin within said coin travel slot.

3. A coin-operated time indicating device as described in claim 1, wherein the peaks of said projections are spaced a distance from said coin track that is smaller than the diameter of a coin which the device is adapted to utilize, and the outer periphery of said escapement wheel is spaced a distance from said coin track that is greater than said coin diameter.

4. A coin-operated time indicating device as described in claim 1, said coin track being removable from said housing and replaceable by a coin track of a different size to accommodate a different size coin.

5. A coin-operated time indicating device as described in claim 1, including means for varying the distance between the peaks of said projections and said coin track.

6. A coin-operated time indicating device as described in claim 5, including means for moving said projections radially to permit passage of a predetermined-sized coin when said projections are in their innermost position and to prevent passage of said predetermined-sized coin when said projections are in their outermost position.

7. A coin-operated time indicating device as described in claim 6, including a cam for forcing said movable projections to their outermost position when said cam is in engagement therewith, and means responsive to reception of a coin within said coin travel slot to control movement of said earn.

8. A coin-operated time indicating device as described in claim 7, said cam control means being adapted to permit at least partial movement of said cam when a first coin is in the coin travel slot and said handle is moved against the bias of said power disc assembly.

9. A coin-operated time indicating device as described in claim 7, said cam control means including a control plate connected to said cam for cooperative movement therewith, a pawl movable in response to movement of said handle and normally in engagement with a notch defined by said control plate and being adapted for disengagement from said notch when said pawl is engaged by said power disc assembly; said pawl and said power disc assembly being out of engagement when a coin is present in said coin travel slot so long as said handle is not moved by an operator.

10. A coin-operated time indicating device as described in claim 7, including a second coin receiving slot for receiving a coin of a different denomination than the coin which said first-mentioned coin receiving slot is adapted to receive; and a second coin track located in said housing in a plane parallel to the plane of said first-mentioned coin track.

11. A coin-operated time indicating device as described in claim 10, including a second set of movable projections on the circumference of said escapement wheel for gauging said difierent denomination coin; and a second cam for forcing said second movable projections to their outermost position when said second cam is in engagement therewith; said coin reception responsive means also being responsive to reception of different denomination coin within a second coin travel slot defined by said second coin track and the outer periphery of said escapement wheel.

12. A coin-operated time indicating device as described in claim 1, including a member rotatably mounted within said housing and connected to said handle for movement therewith; means for biasing said member and handle in said first direction; said member being engageable with said power disc assembly whereby movement of said member against its bias will cause movement of said power disc assembly against its bias.

13. A coin-operated time indicating device as described in claim 12, including means for moving said projections radially to permit passage of a predetermined-sized coin when said projections are in their innermost position and to prevent passage of said predetermined-sized coin when said projections are in their outermost position; a cam for forcing said movable projections to their outermost position when said cam is in engagement therewith; and means responsive to reception of a coin within said coin travel slot to control movement of said cam.

14. A coin-operated time indicating device as described in claim 13, said cam control means including a control plate connected to said cam for cooperative movement therewith, a pawl pivotally fastened to said member and normally in engagement with a notch defined by said control plate, said pawl being adapted for disengagement from said notch when said pawl is engaged by said power disc assembly; said pawl and said power disc assembly being out of engagement when a coin is present in said coin travel slot so long as said handle is not moved by an operator.

15. A parking meter comprising a housing defining a plurality of coin receiving openings; an escapement wheel rotatably mounted within said housing and forming a support for a plurality of coins; means connected to said escapement wheel for controlling the rotational speed thereof; a plurality of projections extending from said escapement wheel; means for moving said projections radially; means responsive to reception of a coin within said housing for controlling movement of said means for moving said projections radially; a plurality of coin tracks within said housing, each of said coin tracks being spaced from said escapement Wheel and defining therewith a coin travel slot which communicates with one of said coin receiving openings; a power disc assembly rotatably mounted within said housing and having a portion thereof in coplanar relationship with said projections; means for biasing said power disc assembly in a first direction; a handle located on the exterior of said housing and operable to move said power disc assembly against its bias; said coin tracks and escapement wheel projections being cooperative to gauge the coins inserted in said device; said escapement wheel movement being caused by the action of a coin in one of said coin travel slots against one of said projections, with said power disc portion urging the coin in the direction of said power disc assembly bias.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,764,091 6/1930 Wurzbach et al. 194-84 XR 2,038,069 4/1936 Watling 19498 XR 2,173,326 9/1939 Baule 194-98 2,299,349 10/ 1942 Rockola 194-98 XR 2,988,191 6/1961 Grant w 1941 3,140,766 7/ 1964 Taylor 194-84 WALTER SOBIN, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 19498, 102 

